TV Station Stakes Out LBJ Grove ‘Cruising’ Spot
Men are cruising for sex at Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove, and TV station WJLA (ABC 7) apparently has the video to prove it.
The TV station secretly staked out the national park, located between the Pentagon and the GW Parkway, near the Columbia Island marina. They found men continuously driving around the parking lot and going in and out of a public restroom.
Asked about the illicit activity and the lack of enforcement, a U.S. Park Police spokesman would only say that “it goes on everywhere… it’s a problem everywhere.”
LBJ Memorial Grove isn’t the only cruising spot around Arlington where men are looking for casual sexual encounters. As reported last summer, the third-floor bathroom at the Pentagon City Macy’s and the bathroom at Arlington Public Library are mentioned on cruising websites.
Other public cruising spots mentioned online include:
- Ballston Common Mall (third floor bathroom)
- Bluemont Park (tennis pavilion bathroom)
- Chain Bridge (woods near parking lot)
- Rosslyn Metro Mall (second floor bathroom near food court)
- Marymount University (basement bathroom in library)
- Thomas Jefferson Middle School (jogging trail, at night)
Video: Arlington’s Magistrate Office
A new video produced by Arlington County explains how the local Office of the Magistrate works.
Magistrates are independent judicial officers who determine whether probable cause exists for criminal complaints by law enforcement officers and members of the public.
“Magistrate duties include issuing various types of processes such as arrest warrants, summonses, bonds, search warrants, and medical detention orders,” according to the county’s website. “Magistrates also conduct bail hearings in instances in which an individual is arrested on a warrant charging him or her with a criminal offense. Magistrates provide services 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Arlington magistrate’s office is located at 2020 15th Street N., on the ground floor of the county jail.
The young woman seen being arrested and locked up in the video, for the record, was an intern in the police department’s media relations and public affairs office, not an actual criminal.
Jewish Musicians to Perform at Artisphere
Ladino music and Yiddish punk will be coming to Arlington this week.
Two Jewish-American musicians, Sarah Aroeste (see music video here) and Daniel Kahn (see music video, above), will be playing at Artisphere on Thursday as part of the two-week-long Washington Jewish Music Festival.
“Sarah Aroeste will open with the premiere of an unplugged version of her album ‘Gracia,’ which fuses the Judeo-Spanish sounds of Ladino music with rock, pop, jazz and funk,” said a festival press release. “Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird employ an inimitable mixture of radical Yiddish song, punk sensibility and re-worked klezmer melodies.”
“Bringing together punk-infused Yiddish from Daniel Kahn and Judeo-Spanish sounds of Sarah Aroeste will create an exhilarating and unique experience for our community,” said festival director Lili Kalish Gersch. “This will be a festival that appeals to music lovers of all stripes and all ages and should not be missed.”
The performances will take place at Artisphere (1101 Wilson Blvd) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20.
Tickets and the festival schedule are available online.
Video: Colbert Reads Yelp Review of Arlington Jail
Comedian Stephen Colbert devoted part of his Comedy Central show on Monday to a four-star Yelp review of the Arlington County Detention Facility.
Colbert read from the review, which praised the jail for offering juice boxes and a “very clean environment.”
“If you’re going to get arrested, do it in Arlington County,” Colbert said, reading from the review.
“I think Arlington tourism just found its new slogan,” he quipped.
Hat tip to Keith H.
Video: ACPD Safety Tips for Jogging, Warm Weather
The Arlington County Police Department has released two short videos with tips for staying safe while using jogging trails and enjoying warm weather.
“Arlington has safe and beautiful trails for biking, running, and walking,” a narrator says on the jogging trail video. “As the days get longer, people of all ages spend more time outside — and this includes criminals, too.”
Tips listed on the video include:
- Try to use populated areas in the daylight hours.
- Wear light, reflective clothing.
- Try to go out with a friend.
- Make sure you bring a cell phone.
- Familiarize yourself with your trails and avoid areas you don’t know.
- If you listen to music, make sure you leave one ear open.
- Tell someone where you will be going before you leave.
- Call 911 for emergencies or, for non-emergencies, call 703-558-2222.
Morning Notes
Advisory Lifted for Local Waterways — A warning from Arlington County to stay out of Arlington Branch, Lower Long Branch and Four Mile Run has been lifted. The advisory was issued on April 9 after a sewage release near Columbia Pike. “The precaution was issued to allow time for the effect of the release to be diminished by natural flushing of the streams,” the county said. [Arlington County]
Husband of Track Coach Caught Boston Chaos on Camera — John Walls, the husband of Bishop O’Connell cross country and track coach Cindy Walls, captured the chaos of the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings on video. Walls was waiting for Cindy and his daughter Katie to cross the finish line when one of the bombs exploded across the street from where he was seated. He was shaken but uninjured. [WJLA]
Burned-Down House Cited for Code Violations — The Hall’s Hill house that was destroyed by fire yesterday has been cited several times in the past for building code violations. Officials are now investigating whether property owner Paul Chretien was in violation of the code by allowing more than four unrelated people to live in the house. [Washington Post]
Police Seek Theft Suspect — The Arlington County Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a 21-year-old man who stole an iPhone. “Police believe that the suspect has also been involved in several other crimes,” according to a press release. [Arlington County]
Video Tour: 2801 Lee Highway #302
Editor’s Note: This video tour is sponsored by Arbour Realty.
A 2BR/2BA condo is for sale at the Residences at Lyon Hill (2801 Lee Highway).
Listed at $799,900, unit No. 302 features large windows, exotic wood floors, Italian marble, custom maple cabinetry, custom drapes, granite kitchen counters/island, Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, built-in flat screen TVs, two parking spaces and additional storage space.
Built in 2006, the luxury Residences at Lyon Hill building is just five minutes away from D.C. and a short walk from Clarendon.
The video tour above is conducted by the listing agent, Adam Gallegos of Arbour Realty. Anyone interested in the condo can contact Adam at 703-627-1255 or Adam@ArbourRealty.com.
If you’re a real estate agent and you’d like to showcase a condo, townhouse or single family home in Arlington, contact us.
Route 50/Courthouse Road Project Delayed
The $39 million Route 50/Courthouse Road/10th Street interchange project is apparently running behind schedule.
The project was originally slated for completion this fall but, in a new county-produced video, Greg Emanuel, Director of Arlington’s Department of Environmental Services, says the project is now slated to be complete by the summer of 2014.
The VDOT website now lists “mid-2014″ as the completion date, though a recently-updated Arlington County project page still lists “fall 2013.”
“It’s a multi-phased project,” Emanuel said in the video (above.) “It takes some time, because while it’s going on we need to maintain traffic.”
Arlington is contributing $1 million to the $39 million cost of the VDOT-led project. Construction started in April 2011. Recent work includes a realignment of the ramp from Courthouse Road to westbound Route 50, and the January demolition of the bridge from eastbound Route 50 to Courthouse Road.
The Courthouse Road bridge, and the 10th Street bridge that was torn down last year, were both originally built in 1954. No word yet on when they’ll be rebuilt, given the change in the project timeline.
Emanuel says the project will make the interchange safer and will help traffic flow more smoothly.
“Right now traffic is kind of complicated at these intersections,” he said. “This is going to provide new acceleration and deceleration lanes, and make it much safer for the traveling public that’s coming on and off these intersections.”
So far representatives from VDOT and DES have not responded to a request for comment.
UPDATE: Marine Corps Marathon Sold Out
Update at 2:55 p.m. — After a registration process beset by technical problems, the Marine Corps Marathon officially sold out as of 2:27 p.m.
On Twitter, marathon officials acknowledged the frustration of would-be registrants, many of whom reported issues accessing the registration site and getting their registration to go through.
“Thank you runners for your enthusiasm for the MCM and, just as important, for your patience today,” the marathon tweeted.
Earlier: Runners in Arlington and across the country are getting ready to exercise their index fingers in the mad dash to register for the Marine Corps Marathon.
Registration for the marathon, which starts and ends in Arlington, opens at noon today. Last year the marathon sold out in 2 hours and 41 minutes. Organizers are hoping that registration goes smoothly this year despite the crush of online visitors vying for one of the 30,000 entries.
“To best support the high demand and heavy volume of online traffic, the MCM has been working with the
online registration service to test system capacity to avoid delays and server issues,” said Rick Nealis, the race’s director. “We expect runners will have immediate success on registration day.”
The marathon has released a series of tips for registrants.
- Once the registration form has been opened, fill out all fields thoroughly and completely and consider which items you want to purchase. Brooks training shirts and hats, Carbo Dining-In tickets, the MarathonFoto super coupon and the MCM Online Trainer will additionally be on sale on MCM registration day.
- After submitting registration payment, a confirmation message will appear on screen. Print the message as it includes each individual runner registration ID number.
- Don’t freak out if you fail to receive a confirmation email immediately after completing the registration process. The distribution of confirmation emails will be purposely delayed to reduce stress on system throughout open registration.
In advance of registration day, organizers released a video (seen below) highlighting the training and dedication of those who run the “People’s Marathon.”
The Marine Corps Marathon, now in its 38th year, is the third largest in the U.S. and the eighth largest in the world. This year’s race will take place on Sunday, Oct. 27.
Photo (above) courtesy Wolfkann
Video: Baby Squirrels Rescued from Car Engine
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington recently rescued a group of newborn baby squirrels from the engine compartment of a car, and the encounter was caught on video.
The AWLA posted the video on YouTube and wrote about it today on the organization’s Facebook page.
“When an Arlington resident took his car in for an inspection, the mechanic noticed a squirrel’s nest under the hood,” the AWLA said. “The mother squirrel had chewed through wires, cables and the container of windshield wiper fluid.”
“The squirrels were taken to a wildlife rehabilitator to be cared for until they are old enough to be released,” the organization noted.
Video: Realtor Accused of Stealing Homeowner’s Clothes
(Updated at 10:20 p.m.) A 60-year-old male real estate agent has been accused of stealing women’s clothing from a house that’s for sale in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, Va. The alleged incident was caught on the homeowner’s video surveillance system.
Stephen Brumme, of Silver Spring, Md., was arrested and charged with burglary and possession of burglarious tools after a homeowner on the 4100 block of 11th Street N. approached police with the video. The homeowner — we’ll call him William (not his real name) — spoke exclusively to ARLnow.com last month on the condition of anonymity.
According to William, the incident took place on Saturday, Feb. 9, while he and his wife were out of town, participating at an out-of-state athletic competition.
Brumme entered the house legally and signed in as a real estate agent, in advance of a client showing up to tour the home, but is seen on a surveillance camera going through what William said is his wife’s clothing, in a bedroom closet and a dresser. According to William, Brumme pocketed three of his wife’s shirts before the client showed up and Brumme is seen leaving the bedroom to answer the door.
William said he and his wife were “creeped out” by the video when they watched it.
“Our reaction was a feeling of being violated by a creep who wanted to go through our things,” he said. “I like to think that people are good, but often times they’re not.”
The video was recorded using a Dropcam, a camera that transmits and records video online via Wi-fi. William said the camera was in plain sight in the bedroom. He said the video also assisted him after he found a razor blade in his garbage disposal following some showings by other real estate agents.
Brumme was released on bail following his arrest. Police say his real estate license was “immediately suspended.” Cops are now asking other home sellers to come forward if they believe they might have been burglarized.
“His behavior leads us to believe there are additional victims,” said Arlington County Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. “He went straight to the closet and the drawers. He knew exactly what he was looking for.”
Amy homeowner who believes they might also have been a burglary victim is encouraged to contact ACPD at (703) 558-2222, or Det. Timothy Parsons at (703) 228-4172 or tparsons@arlingtonva.us.
Video and mugshot courtesy ACPD. Note: Sound might not be synced with video.
Video: Wakefield Does the Harlem Shake
The Harlem Shake meme has spread to the locker room of the National District champion Wakefield Warriors boys basketball squad.
A video was released on YouTube today showing the team and their fans doing the Harlem Shake, which has become an internet sensation.
“What REALLY happens in the locker room after the Wakefield High School Warriors win a big game!” says the video’s description.
Wakefield, which defeated Langley on Tuesday with a buzzer beater that was caught on video, will face Robinson tonight in the Virginia AAA Northern Region tournament semifinals. The game is scheduled to take place at Robinson at 8:00 p.m.
Video: Wakefield Hits Buzzer Beater To Advance to Semifinals
Wakefield High School junior Re’Quan Hopson hit a game-winning three pointer as time expired last night to advance the boys basketball team to the regional semifinals.
Wakefield, which captured the National District championship last week, was trailing 43-44 with 4.2 seconds left in the game when Hopson inbounded the ball, received a pass back, and hit the three point shot as the game clock hit 0:00. Wakefield won 46-44 and screaming students rushed the court.
Northern Virginia Sports has a full game recap and another video angle of the shot. Wakefield will now face an away game at Robinson on Friday night.
Video: Arlington Hosts Life-Size Energy Board Game
Last weekend, Arlington County hosted a “life-size board game” that challenged residents to think harder about their energy choices.
The Energy Journey Game was held at Washington-Lee High School on the afternoon of Saturday, Feb. 2. Participants learned strategies for cutting down on energy use during all four seasons.
In an interview with the county’s Arlington TV channel, above, County Board member Jay Fisette hailed the event as a “creative” way to further Arlington “commitment to sustainability.”
“We need to do outreach continually, to bring to people the ideas — the awareness — of how they can save [money] and protect the environment in their everyday behavior,” Fisette said.
Video: Thieves Smash Jewelry Counter at Pentagon City Mall
The Arlington County Police Department has released surveillance footage of today’s smash-and-grab robbery at the Zales jewelry store in the Pentagon City mall.
The video shows four men entering the store, their faces covered by hoods and masks. They then use hammers to smash a glass jewelry case, quickly grab the merchandise, and flee the store. Police say the men made a clean getaway with 27 rings worth $128,000.
Anyone with information about the suspects is encouraged to contact Det. Paula Brockenborough at 703-228-4241 or via email at pbrockenborough@arlingtonva.us. Information can also be reported anonymously to Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS (8477).
